4 d. ago Standard Chartered raises China 2026 GDP growth forecast to 4.6%

Standard Chartered raises China 2026 GDP growth forecast to 4.6%  MSN

Politics

9 d. ago Hong Kong’s HKChat app raises AI expectations as 90,000 join app in debut week

Hong Kong’s first locally developed artificial intelligence chatbot, HKChat, has raised expectations that it could compete with more popular and established AI apps, as it racked up around 90,000 users in the city within a week of its low-key release. HKChat is focused on providing information on local services, including real-time bus arrivals, as well as the city’s weather, laws and regulations. It was the top-ranked free app on Apple’s Hong Kong App Store on Sunday, according to data from app...

Politics

9 d. ago Hong Kong’s HKChat raises AI expectations as 90,000 users join app in debut week

Hong Kong’s first locally developed artificial intelligence chatbot, HKChat, has raised expectations that it could compete with more popular and established AI apps, as it racked up around 90,000 users in the city within a week of its low-key release. HKChat is focused on providing information on local services, including real-time bus arrivals, as well as the city’s weather, laws and regulations. It was the top-ranked free app on Apple’s Hong Kong App Store on Sunday, according to data from app...

Politics

9 d. ago Breaking | 12 dead as Hong Kong’s Tai Po blaze raised to maximum threat level

Breaking | 12 dead as Hong Kong’s Tai Po blaze raised to maximum threat level  South China Morning Post

Events

9 d. ago Hong Kong’s Tai Po blaze raised to maximum threat level as 4 dead, 13 trapped

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Four people including a firefighter were killed and at least five others critically injured in a major fire that broke out in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood, with fierce flames spreading across bamboo scaffolding at a housing estate, which has also trapped multiple residents. Huge plumes of dark smoke billowed high into the sky at the scene at Wang Fuk...

Events

9 d. ago 12 dead as Hong Kong’s Tai Po blaze raised to maximum threat level

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Twelve people including a firefighter have been killed and at least 16 others are critically injured in a fiery blaze ravaging Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood, as flames lash over bamboo scaffolding across all eight blocks of a housing estate with multiple other residents trapped inside. The other 11 who were killed were eight women and three men, according...

Events

1 week ago Hong Kong competition watchdog adds touch of drama to campaign about fair play

Hong Kong’s antitrust watchdog has launched a citywide campaign to raise awareness about the risks of sharing commercially sensitive information among businesses. The initiative will remind companies that they risk falling foul of the law if they share information such as pricing, costs or future business strategies. To make the topic more engaging, the Competition Commission will roll out a three-episode romantic short drama, together with leaflets, exhibitions and lectures, to help local...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong set for further economic growth after robust quarter, city leader says

Hong Kong’s economy is expected to continue growing after a strong performance in the previous quarter, supported by the global economic environment, a vibrant financial market and an interest rate cut, the city’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that a persistent rise in exports and sustained expansion in domestic demand had contributed to the city’s “robust” economic performance in the third quarter, despite turbulence in the global economy, which recorded a...

Politics

2 w. ago Finance chief expects Hong Kong’s unemployment rate to stabilise or even decline

Hong Kong’s unemployment rate, which recently hit a three-year high of 3.9 per cent, is expected to stabilise or even decline as the economy gains positive momentum, according to the city’s financial chief. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po expressed optimism on Sunday following the government’s revision of its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2025 from 2 to 3 per cent, to 3.2 per cent. This revision takes into account the actual growth of 3.3 per cent recorded in the first...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong’s history makers raise standards at Games with gold, silver, bronze

Hong Kong has got used to its athletes making history at major sporting events in the past, but even by those lofty standards, Saturday at the National Games was something to behold. Siobhan Haughey won her second gold medal in the space of 48 hours, becoming the first Hongkonger to win two at a single China Games and taking the city’s tally to five. If that was not enough, Aaron Ho Sze-long’s silver in the men’s sabre on Saturday was the first medal of any colour the city’s fencers have won in...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong raises GDP growth forecast to 3.2% as economy performs ‘robustly’

The Hong Kong government has revised its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2025 from 2 to 3 per cent to 3.2 per cent, with the economy performing better than expected. The Census and Statistics Department on Friday revealed that it upgraded the real GDP forecast for 2025 to 3.2 per cent, taking into account the actual outturn of 3.3 per cent in the first three quarters of the year and the near-term outlook. The department also announced a revised figure of 3.8 per cent GDP growth...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong raises GDP growth forecast to 3.2% amid ‘robust’ economic performance

The Hong Kong government has revised its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2025 from 2 to 3 per cent to 3.2 per cent, with the economy performing better than expected. The Census and Statistics Department on Friday revealed that it upgraded the real GDP forecast for 2025 to 3.2 per cent, taking into account the actual outturn of 3.3 per cent in the first three quarters of the year and the near-term outlook. The department also announced a revised figure of 3.8 per cent GDP growth...

Economics

3 w. ago Newcomer raises Kowloon transport issues at Hong Kong Legco election forum

Two incumbent Hong Kong lawmakers faced scrutiny from a newcomer over their commitment to addressing urgent public transport issues in east Kowloon, sparking a minor dispute at the fifth government-hosted Legislative Council election forum. Five candidates vying for two seats in the Kowloon East constituency presented their policy initiatives at the forum on Thursday morning, focusing on cultural and creative industry development and how to transform the area into a new central business district...

Politics

3 w. ago Operation Santa Claus: Hong Kong Golf Club tees off to raise HK$1.5 million

The Hong Kong Golf Club this autumn turned its fairways into avenues for giving, hosting two major tournaments that brought together competition and community spirit. From the international prestige of the Link Hong Kong Open to the members-led Cup of Kindness, the club put its commitment to overlooked causes front and centre. Held from October 30 to November 2 at its Fanling course, this year’s Link Hong Kong Open marked the 64th edition of the city’s longest-running annual tournament. On the...

Economics

3 w. ago Hong Kong’s Keeta to end unfair commission practices after watchdog probe

Keeta has promised to offer fairer arrangements for partnering restaurants after Hong Kong’s antitrust watchdog raised concerns about the food delivery platform charging eateries working exclusively with it lower commissions and punishing any that worked with its rivals. The Competition Commission on Wednesday said it and Keeta had reached a consensus, with the business promising to voluntarily amend the existing provisions and work with the watchdog to make the changes legally binding. Keeta,...

Events

3 w. ago 5 candidates raise livelihood issues in first Legco poll forum but avoid debate

Livelihood issues have emerged as a key focus of Hong Kong’s first government-held Legislative Council election forum, although there was little confrontation among candidates who refrained from questioning one another at the event. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai praised the orderly and “vibrant” atmosphere of the event on Tuesday, which covered the New Territories South West constituency. It was the first of 39 “Patriots Collaborate for Good Governance”...

Politics

3 w. ago First Legco poll forum held as candidates raise livelihood issues, avoid debate

Hong Kong’s first government-held Legislative Council election forum has been held with livelihood issues emerging as a key focus, although there was little confrontation among the five candidates, who refrained from questioning one another at the event. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai praised the orderly and “vibrant” atmosphere of the event on Tuesday, which covered the New Territories South West constituency. It was the first of 39 “Patriots Collaborate...

Politics

3 w. ago First Legco poll forum with 5 candidates zooms in on livelihood issues

Hong Kong’s first government-run Legislative Council election forum has been held with livelihood issues emerging as a key focus, although there was little confrontation among the five candidates, who refrained from questioning one another at the event. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai praised the orderly and “vibrant” atmosphere of the event on Tuesday, which covered the New Territories South West constituency. It was the first of 39 “Patriots Collaborate...

Society

3 w. ago First Hong Kong Legco poll forums zoom in on livelihood issues

Hong Kong held its first two government-run Legislative Council election forums on Tuesday with livelihood issues emerging as a key focus, as candidates highlighted their own platforms and ideas while largely refraining from questioning one another. While the events were going on, the Post learned that at least two broadcasters cancelled their forums after candidates began pulling out soon after the government announced on Monday that it would for the first time hold such sessions. Secretary for...

Society

last month China’s WeRide drives for ‘ubiquitous’ robotaxis after Hong Kong listing

Chinese self-driving technology firm WeRide, fresh off raising HK$2.39 billion (US$307 million) in a Hong Kong share sale, plans to rev up commercialisation of autonomous taxis and expand into markets like the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Japan. Tony Han, founder and CEO of the Guangzhou-based company, said WeRide would deploy 10,000 robotaxis worldwide over the next few years, adding that its fleet could eventually grow to hundreds of thousands in line with the ultimate goal of “supplying...

Politics